Definitions

Women: Women are adult human females, typically recognized as individuals who have reached the age of maturity (18 years or older in most legal and societal contexts). The term is often used to denote those who identify with the female gender and are acknowledged as such in various cultural, social, and legal frameworks.

Girls: Girls are female children or adolescents, generally defined as individuals who are biologically female or identify as female and are below the age of legal adulthood (usually under 18 years). The term encompasses a broad range of developmental stages, from early childhood through puberty and adolescence.

Goals

The primary goal of protecting women and girls in a post-conflict phase is to establish and enhance equality, inclusion, and social cohesion. By safeguarding women and girls’ rights and ensuring they have equal opportunities to participate in political, economic, social, and cultural life, societies can prevent marginalization and discrimination, which are often sources of social tension and precursors to violence. Protecting women and girls in a peace process may serve to:

• Prevent or Address Violence and Discrimination: Protecting women and girls from (further) gender-based violence including human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse and prevent discrimination in legal, political, and social frameworks in the post-conflict society.
• Enhance their Participation in Decision-Making: By guaranteeing protection, women and girls are more likely to engage in decision-making, voicing their needs and priorities in a post-conflict society, and contributing to public debate.
• Promote Reintegration and Rehabilitation: Reintegration and rehabilitation are critical processes that address the complex needs of women and girls affected by conflict, aiming to restore their dignity, agency, and role in society. This often involves tailored approaches to accommodate the unique experiences and challenges faced by female combatants, survivors of violence, and those who have been marginalized.
• Support their Socioeconomic Empowerment: Socioeconomic empowerment plays a pivotal role in enabling women and girls to rebuild their lives, achieve financial independence, and contribute to sustainable development in post-conflict societies. Ensuring equal access to resources, education, and economic opportunities addresses systemic inequalities exacerbated by conflict and promotes inclusive growth.

Why Include This Chapter

The inclusion of a Women and Girls Chapter in a peace agreement may serve to:

• Emphasize the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls;
• Identify the specific needs of women and girls in post-conflict and lay out common strategies to address them;
• Ensure that all parties agree to abide by international norms and obligations to protect women and girls and promote their inclusion in the peace process;
• Ensuring that gender equality and empowerment are key components of the peace process;
• Signal the intention of the parties to prevent marginalization of women.

Core Issues Addressed

Most peace agreements address the following core issues in a Chapter on Women and Girls:

• Commitment to Gender Equality Principles: This section lays out gender equality principles, which help establish a strong foundation for equality between men and women in all aspects of life, particularly in the context of post-conflict reconstruction.
• Protection from Violence in Private and Public Life: This section aims to provide safeguards for women and girls from all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), in both private (domestic violence) and public (conflict-related) settings.
• Legal Safeguards: outlines laws and enforcement mechanisms to prevent and punish all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
• Education and Awareness: establishes plans to implement widespread education campaigns to change attitudes and behaviors that normalize violence.
• Support Services: establishes accessible and comprehensive support systems, including shelters, counseling, and legal aid for survivors of violence.
• Participation in Public Life: This section ensures that women and girls are represented in decision-making processes and public governance at all levels.
• Socio Economic Development: This section aims to promote equal access to economic resources, education, and employment opportunities for women and girls.
• Access to Education: outlines guarantees for universal access to quality education for girls and women, including vocational training.
• Employment Equality: sets out provisions to ensure equitable access to employment opportunities and fair wages in all sectors.
• Economic Empowerment: promotes equal access to economic resources, including property ownership, credit, and financial services.
• Health: commits to providing appropriate health facilities for women.
• Justice and Accountability: This section ensures access to justice for survivors of violence and addresses past human rights violations.

Commitment to Gender Equality Principles

Note to Drafters: Including a commitment to gender equality in peace agreements is essential for building inclusive and lasting peace. Such provisions align with international frameworks like UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasize the importance of women's participation and protection in conflict resolution. By acknowledging the distinct impacts of conflict on women and girls, these clauses ensure that post-conflict recovery addresses their needs and rights. Moreover, gender equality commitments help establish a foundation for democratic governance, social cohesion, and equitable development, making peace agreements more resilient and widely supported across society.

The Parties affirm their commitment to gender equality as a fundamental principle in the post-conflict reconstruction process, ensuring the equitable participation and inclusion of men, women, and marginalized genders in all aspects of the peace process.

Special measures shall be adopted to address the specific needs and rights of women and girls affected by the conflict, including access to justice, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.

The Parties acknowledge women as independent citizens with rights, who, irrespective of their marital status, or relationship to their family or community, have access, on an equal footing to men, to ownership of land and production projects, funding options, infrastructure, technical services and training, inter alia; attention is to be given to the social and institutional conditions that have prevented women from gaining access to the assets of production and to public and social benefits. 

The Parties shall incorporate in the peace process perspectives informed by gender, women’s rights and the LGBTIQA+ community, taking into consideration the initiatives and experiences of society, as well as the recommendations and instruments of national and international entities aimed at increasing women’s participation in peacebuilding and peacekeeping.

The Parties shall establish a method for strengthening the active and effective participation of women and historically excluded, discriminated and underprivileged groups – children, adolescents, young people, older persons, ethnic peoples, peasants, workers, persons deprived of liberty, the diaspora, the LGBTIQA+ community and persons with disabilities – in building democracy for peace. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms shall include gender-sensitive indicators to assess progress toward gender equality and ensure accountability for the commitments made under this Agreement.

Gender perspectives shall be integrated into all policies, programs, and mechanisms established under this Agreement, including disarmament, demobilization, reintegration (DDR), security sector reform (SSR), and transitional justice.

Protection from Violence in Private and Public Life

Legal Safeguards

Note to Drafters: Parties may include language on legal safeguards in peace agreements to ensure that negotiated commitments are enforceable, credible, and consistent with international legal standards. These safeguards are particularly important for protecting the rights of women and girls in post-conflict settings, where institutions are often fragile or lack public trust. To strengthen these protections, parties may align legal provisions with international frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), reinforcing their commitment to gender equality and human rights.

All forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence and conflict-related sexual violence, shall be explicitly prohibited by law. The Parties agree to establish and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure accountability and protection for survivors.

The Parties commit to ensuring freedoms and adherence to international human rights treaties, especially women’s rights and international justice treaties.

​​The Parties commit to promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of women and girls in all aspects of the peace process and post-conflict reconstruction. All measures shall be consistent with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other relevant international instruments.

Mechanisms shall be established to ensure the enforcement of legal safeguards contained in this Agreement. Violations of rights, including those based on gender, shall be subject to investigation and appropriate legal remedy, in accordance with domestic law and international obligations.

Education and Awareness

Note to Drafters: Parties may include language on education and awareness of gender equality in a peace agreement to foster long-term social transformation and support sustainable peacebuilding. Educational initiatives can empower women and girls, challenge harmful gender norms, and promote inclusive civic engagement. In post-conflict societies, where structural inequalities often persist, integrating gender-sensitive curricula and public awareness campaigns helps dismantle stereotypes and build a culture of respect and collaboration between genders.

The Parties commit to promoting public awareness of gender equality through nationwide campaigns, community dialogues, and media engagement. These efforts shall aim to challenge discriminatory norms and foster inclusive participation in post-conflict recovery.

The Parties agree to support the development and implementation of gender-sensitive educational curricula at all levels of schooling. Educational reforms shall promote respect for human rights, non-discrimination, and the equal role of women and men in peacebuilding and governance.

The Parties shall promote non-stigmatization of groups in vulnerable circumstances or discriminated against, such as women, ethnic peoples and communities, the LGBTIQA+ population, young people, boys and girls, and the elderly, disabled persons, political minorities, and religious minorities. 

National education campaigns shall be launched to challenge norms and behaviors that perpetuate violence against women and other vulnerable groups, including LGBTQIA+. These campaigns shall include community workshops, school curriculums, and media outreach programs.

All education and awareness initiatives shall be guided by international legal frameworks, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The Parties shall ensure that these principles are integrated into national policies and peace implementation strategies.

Support Services

Note to Drafters: Including support services for women in a peace agreement ensures access to essential resources like healthcare, counseling, and legal aid, addressing the unique challenges they face during recovery. This fosters gender equity and strengthens long-term peace.

[State] shall establish and maintain comprehensive support systems for survivors of violence, including shelters, psychological counseling, legal aid, and rehabilitation services. Access to these services shall be free of charge and available to all.

Participation in Public Life

Note to Drafters: Women's exclusion from public life, particularly decision-making, perpetuates gender inequalities. By including language on participation in peace processes, parties ensure women’s voices are heard and that they are represented in political, economic, and social structures. Women bring distinct experiences and priorities, especially in post-conflict societies, that differ from those of men. This includes concerns related to family welfare, social cohesion, and community rebuilding. Parties that acknowledge the need to foster the participation of women and girls in the peace process ​signal to the public that they intend the peacebuilding to be inclusive and representative of the entire population.

The Parties commit to ensuring that women constitute no less than [40]% of all political, decision-making, and peacebuilding entities at the national, regional, and local levels, including the transitional government, constitutional reform institutions, and peace implementation committees.

The Parties commit to the representation of women in a fair proportion in the [national legislative and executive institutions] and [regional governments], and to equitable participation in the rest of the institutions of the [transitional authority], including [security sector reform], [demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration processes], [transitional justice processes], and [other decision-making roles].

The Parties agree to establish a gender-inclusive peace negotiation process, ensuring the full participation of women in all stages, including the drafting and implementation of peace agreements, with a specific focus on the needs and priorities of women and girls.

The Parties will implement programs to build the leadership capacities of women, including training in political governance, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution, to increase women’s representation in leadership positions within the post-conflict government and civil society organizations.

Women and girls shall have equal access to all public life opportunities, including employment, education, and participation in public office. The Parties will ensure that laws and policies are amended to remove any barriers to women’s full participation in social, economic, and political life.

The Parties will support the active participation of women’s organizations in the peace process, including funding for civil society initiatives that promote gender equality, women’s rights, and the empowerment of women and girls.

The Parties agree to address the imbalance in the representation of men and women in [state] national civil service by applying the standards of population proportionality and positive discrimination[, while taking stock of the advantages and disadvantages of previous experiences and taking standards of qualification and competence into consideration.]

The Parties recognize the special status of women, children, and youth and their issues, as well as the important role of women and youth in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, in transitional justice processes and in peace-building, and the imperative of their equal participation, and full engagement in all efforts for the maintenance of international peace and security, including justice and reconciliation.

Socio Economic Development

Access to Education

Note to Drafters: Conflict often disrupts education, particularly for girls, who may face greater barriers to returning to school due to societal norms, security concerns, or the economic impact of the conflict. Conflict exacerbates gender disparities in education. Parties can specifically target the reintegration of girls into education, remove barriers to their continued learning, and promote positive discrimination to facilitate women’s access to education.

The Parties commit to ensuring that all girls and boys have equal access to education at all levels. Special attention will be given to the reintegration of girls into schools disrupted by conflict, including the removal of economic, social, and security barriers that prevent their full participation in education.

The principle of positive discrimination shall be applied to the men and women of [state] in [higher] education [scholarships] [and external university scholarships] in accordance with the policies, regulations and standards of [higher] education.

The Parties commit to the promotion of vocational training for women in disciplines that are not the traditional activity of women.

Employment Equality

Note to Drafters: Including provisions on employment equality in a peace agreement promotes economic stability and ensures equal opportunities for all, helping to rebuild societies on a fairer foundation. It also addresses systemic inequalities that can undermine long-term peace and social cohesion.

The Parties commit to ensuring that women and men have equal access to employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors. The government will enact and enforce laws that guarantee equal pay for equal work and protect women from discriminatory hiring practices.

Economic Empowerment

Note to Drafters: Economic empowerment helps ensure that women can live free from violence, dependence, and poverty. By addressing the economic rights of women and girls, peace agreements can contribute to their long-term stability and autonomy.

The Parties agree to implement policies that promote the economic empowerment of women and girls, including access to land, property, and credit. Special attention will be given to women's access to financial services and business opportunities, including microfinance and entrepreneurship programs.

The Parties agree to establish a [Women Enterprise Development Fund] for provision of subsidized credit for women-based enterprise development and capacity building for women entrepreneurs.

Health

Note to Drafters: In conflict and post-conflict settings, women can face considerable challenges regarding access to health. Parties can include specific provisions that acknowledge and respond to the specific needs of women as regards their health and reproductive functions.

The Parties shall take measures to ensure access to appropriate healthcare facilities, which takes a gender-based approach and accounts for health requirements for women, in accordance with their life cycle, including measures to address sexual and reproductive health, psychosocial care, and the special measures for pregnant women and children in the areas of health promotion and treatment. 

Justice and Accountability

Note to Drafters: Acknowledging and addressing crimes committed against women and girls during the conflict promotes respect for human rights and the rule of law. Accountability mechanisms ensure that perpetrators are held responsible for their actions, which provides justice for survivors and helps prevent further violations.

The Parties commit to implementing a comprehensive legal framework that ensures perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, enslavement, and trafficking, are prosecuted and held accountable in accordance with applicable norms [and mechanisms established under this Agreement]. 

Further Readings

• Inclusive Peace & Transition Initiative, Making Women Count in Peace Processes
• Council on Foreign Relations, Women’s Participation in Peace Processes
• UN Security Council Resolution 1325
• UN reports of the Secretary-General on Women, Peace and Security
• UN Women, Transitional Justice and Peace Negotiations with a Gender Lens